Eyeglasses.



J. C. WELLS.

EYEGLASSES.

APPLlCATION man MAY 31. 1913.

1,1 58,605. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WlT/VESSES: lNVE/VTUR M JOEL C. VELLE A TTORNEYcS J.C. WELLS.

EYEGLASSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1913.

1, 1 58,605 Paiented Nov. 2,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES.

QCQ'W JOEL C. WELLS, OF SOU'IHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

EYEGLASSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No. 771,026.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOEL C. VVELLs, a citizenof the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Eyeglasses, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in spectacles and has particularreference to improved means for retaining in position on the face astructure of this character embodying a rigid as contradistinguishedfrom a spring bridge.

The leading object'of my invention is the provision of novel andimproved means for securing a rigid bridge spectacle mounting inposition on the face of the wearer.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a mounting whichshall, in addition to embodying my improved securing means, beconstructed to afford maximum adj ustability whereby a single size ofmounting can be adapted to the requirements of a variety of differentfacial characteristics and measurements.

Other objects and advantages of my im proved construction should bereadily apparent by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understoodthat I may make any modifications in the specific details ofconstruction hereinafter shown and specifically described within thescope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding thespirit of my invention. I

Figure I represents a front view of a pair of glasses constructed inaccordance with and embodying the principle of my invention. Fig. IIrepresents a top plan view thereof. Fig. III represents a fragmentaryfront elevation of a slight modification of my invention. Fig. IVrepresents a face view of the guard and other parts as illustrated inFig. III. Fig. Vrepresents a fragmentary front view of anothermodification of my invention parts being shown in section. Fig. VIrepresents a top' plan view thereof. Fig. VII represents an enlargeddetail view, particularly illustrating the construction of guard andoperating means therefor. Fig. VIII represents a plan view of anotherform of my invention. Fig. IX represents a plan view of a slightvariation of Fig. VIII. Fig. X represents a detail 'of the blank forview of one form of my guard such as shown in Fig. II. Fig. XIrepresents a plan view forming the guard shown 1n F 1g. IV. Fig. XIIrepresents a detail view of another modified construction of guard.-Fig. XIII represents a. fragmentary slightly perspective viewillustrating another form of my invention constructed to afford a widerange of adjustability. Fig. XIV is a view similar to Fig. XIII of 'aslightly different construction. Fig. XV is a perspective view of thestructure shown. in Fig. XI V. Fig. XVI represents a slight modificationthereof. Fig. XVII represents an enlarged detail view of the padsupporting member. Fig. XVIII represents a fragmentary perspective viewillustrating another modified form of pad and actuating means therefor.Fig. XIX is a view of another modification. Fig. XX represents a slightmodification of the construction illustrated in Figs. V, VI and VII.Fig. XXI represents another modification of bearing members. Fig. XXIIrepresents a further modification thereof. Fig. XXIII represents a planview of the blank from which the structure shown in Fig. XXII is formed.Fig. XXIV represents a perspective view illustrating a modified meansfor manually operating the gripping pads. Fig. XXV represents a similarView of a slightly different arrangement of said pad controlling means.i

' In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employedto denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral1 designates the lenses having secured thereto the usual lensattachments 2 connected by a bridge member 3. In certain of the forms ofmy invention I have shown the bridge as connected direct to the lensattachment 2, while in other forms I have shown the bridge connected tothe lens attachment through the medium of a stud box 4 of ordinaryconstruction. It will be noted that in all of the forms of my inventionI employ a lower Weight bearing guard in combination with an uppersuitably actuated moving gripping member which has a very limited rangeof movement, the said upper member serving to anchor the glasses inposition, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In that form of my invention shown in Figs. I and II, I employ the lowerweight supporting portion 5 having seoured'thereto as by riveting, thespring loop 6 bearingthe anchoring pad 7 and the said loop terminatingin a slotted portion 8 extended out- 5 wardly from the pad. To controlthe-posh r tion of the pad 7 I pivot or suit-ably fulcrum on the bridgethe "levers 9 having the handle:

portions 10 and having their inner ends engaged in the slots of theportions 8 of the 10 spring loop whereby grasping and pressf ingtogether of the handles 10 will tighten the loops 6 and throw the pads 7outward out of engagement with the nose, the adjustment of the springloops being such that the pads7 are normally disposed inward at an angleto the supporting members 5, as is clearly shown in the plan views, thefront edges thus biting into the loose skin at the top of the nose toretain the mounting in place.

' In that form of my invention illustrated in Figs. III and IV, thelevers are pivoted to swing in a vertical instead of a horizontalposition and have on their inner ends the '25 lugs 11 engaging suitabletongues 12 on the pads 7 ,"the spring loop as shown being integralwiththe pads 7 and weight supporting member 5 instead of riveted orotherwise secured thereto as in the previously de- 3o scribed form ofguard. It is to be noted that in this form of my invention the arm 27carrying the weight supporting member 5 and the pad or gripping membersupport, has a loop formed therein to afford maximum adjusta-bility, theterminus of said loop being attached to the arched portion 8 of thebridge, while the bridge exterior to said arched portion has the loop 3formed therein between the arch and the lenses to permit of readyadjustment of the lenses relative to the bridge and guards or nosetions.

In Figs. V, VI and VII, I have illustrated bearing poramodification ofmy invention as used in con unet1on with a stud box'mountmg, but

it will be understood that the stud box may be eliminated if desired andthe various parts integrally formed or secured together. In this form ofmy invention the weight sup- 5'0 porting pad 5 has the arm 13 forengagement in the stud box and has extending upwardly therefrom a pintle14; on which is pi'votally mounted a pad 7 having curled portions orcars 15 engaging the pintle,

' '55-"while disposed between said ears is an actuating spring 16tending to turn the pad 7 inward on the pintle as a pivot. To enable oneto readily move the pad 7 out of engagmg position, I provide each padwith a flange or flanges 17, each having a slot 18 formed therein toreceive a pin 19 on the end of the operating lever 9. The lever 9instead of being fulcrumed on the bridge is =slidable on the box orguide 20. A slight 6 5"modification of this. construction isillusreadily apparentbyreference to Figs. VI

i a in rig. X y' tl i flfoin. ii-inseam while the first finger is placedagainst the. bridge. The handles 10 are then drawn directly forwarth'thepins 19 riding in the slots 18 and as said slots are normally at anangle to the direction ofinovement of the levers this forward drawing ofthe handles 10 will open out the pads 7, as should be and VII. p

In Fig. VIII, I have shown another slight modification of my inventionin which the pads 7 are rotatably mounted on the pintles 14 and haveextending laterally substan- ;tially parallel tothe lenses the portions21' connected bymeans'of springs 22 to the lens attachments 2., In thisform of my invention I slidably connect tothe bridge the U- sha'pedmember 23' having the inwardly ex- 1 tending arm portions'24' adapted'tocontact with the portions 21 of the pads, inward movementof the U memberrelative to the bridge swinging the pads to release the same thereoffrom-gripping position against the tension of the springs 22. In the useof this form of my invention the lasses may'either be held by the thumband fingers with one finger bearing against themember 23,- or I mayprovide the stationaryhandles 25 su1tably secured to the mounting forgrasping by the thumb and second-finger, while the first finger pressesagainst the base of the U member. a e a In Fig. IX, I have illustrated amounting similar to that in Fig-VIII with theexception that the pads arenot provided with the extensions 21 but are'aetuate'd' by th'eU memberitself which is made of'spring material and so mounted as to ordinarilyactuate the pads inwardly but to spread on pressure against the central.portion thereof to re 'lieve the pads of pressure and tend to draw thesame outward into 'disengagingposition.

In Fig. XII, I haveshown a form of guard adapted for use in conjunctionwith several of the modifications of actuating means above illustrated;in this instance the pad 7 instead of being'pivoted on the pintle 1a iscarried by thecoil spring-member 26 leasin means bein n'ovided tothrowthis V n front edge lnto disen a in OSllllOIlL' L 2: b :3 i

" Fig. XIII is anotherlform of my inven- "which is secured to saidpintle, the tension- 'of' the spring tending to throw the front "edge ofthe pad inward and a suitablere .bridge 3 supports the lever 9,

wardly and push the sition,

-tion in which the same means serve to transmit motion to the pad inboth directions, in thisform the bridge 3 having the looped ad--justable portion 3 and having secured thereto the looped arm 27carrying the weight supporting guard member 5 and the gripping member 7,which is pivotally mounted on the spindle 1.4:. A pivot rising from thewhile disposedabove the lever is a spring 28 hearing at one end againstthe lever and at the other against the mounting to swing the lever inpadinto operative pograsping of the handle portion of the lever serving towithdraw the pad from operative position.

In that form of my invention shown in Figs. XIV to XVII inclusive, Ihave on tirely dispensed with any manual operating means for the pad andin these forms I'have shown the pad as rotatably supported on thespindle 1% and actuated by the spring 30 retained in the cup 29 but itwill be understood that other forms of my pads as shown in the variousviews may be employed without the manually controlling means therefor,1n the .same manner as that shown in the above mentioned figures.

Fig. XVIII represents a further modifi cation of my invention in whichthe pad 7 turnson the spindle 14 and is actuated by the spring loop 6extending upward from the lower portion of the bearing member 5, thelever 9 engaging an eye on the end of the said spring arm or loop 6 topermit of outward movement of the front edge of the 'pad 7.

The form of my invention illustrated in Fig. XIX is similar to severalof. the previously described views, with the exception that the lever 9engages the pad at the bottom thereof instead of at the top or forwardportion thereof, the lever in this instance,

as in the others, shifting the pad out of gripping position.

Fig. XXI differs from my other forms merely in having the loop 31 comingdownward from the top thereof instead of from the forward edge or backof the pad.

. Figs. XXII and XXIII illustrate a slight modification in that the mainguard member has formed thereon the pair of ears 33 bent to formbearings for the spindle 34: of the pad 7, and in addition there isintegral with the main guard member the'loop 6, which is riveted to theforward portion of the pad 7 and has projecting fromthe sides thereofthe ears 32 for engagement by the furcated end of the lever 9 toproperly shift the pad 7 into inoperative position.

In Figs. XXIV and XXV,I have shown one of my regular types of guardswith the perforated ears 8 extending from the back of the pad portions7, which are actuated. by

*the'spring loops 6, While I have shown'the on the weight supportingtrated manual, means for be readily apparent, and it will be seen that Ihave provided an improved type of mounting embodying lower weightsupporting.

pads, upper pads suitably actuated for gripping or biting into the looseflesh on the upper part of the nose of the wearer and actuating meanspreferably independent of the supports for the pads for throwing thesame into operating position and for shifting the pads out of operativeposition. It will further be observed that I have provided an improvedconstruction of spectacle mount ing embodying an entirely new and novelmethod of operation, in that I provide a bridge or connecting member tofit around or in engagement with the bridge of the nose of the wearerand support by said connecting member, weight supporting pads adapted torest on the sides of the nose of the wearer, which pads are mounted foradjustment to actually bear upon and fit the nose and support the weightof the mounting and practically balance the. mounting on the nose, whilein addition to these lower substantially rigid bearing portions, I haveprovided gripping members so disposed as to grip or bite into the looseflesh at the top of the nose and resist tilting of the mounting guardsas a fulcrum, the entire function of these latter members '7 being togrip and resist this tilting of the mounting and the same beingpreferably mounted to swing about an axis posterior to the anterior edgethereof so that said anterior or front edge may swing in to bite intothe flesh and will more firmly engage said flesh and grip the same inthe manner of a hook upon any forward tilting of the mounting, althoughother forms of pads than those having such a hook action may be employedif desired. It will thus be seen that my mounting can readily be placedin the face by raising the weight supporting portions in correctposition and slightly pressing the mounting inward, when the pads 7 willreadily yield and will allow the nose toforce itself therebtwee'nwithout any undue pressure, and at the same time the resilient actuatingmeans for said pads will cause them to satisfactorily grip the nose andprevent accidental forward or dropping off movement of the glasses.

While in a number of figures I have illusreleasing the pads, it is to beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited to a structure in whichmanual "means. for disengagingthe pad from the merely for theConvenience of persons not fully understanding the operation of themounting and to facilitate the removal thereof, since persons skilled orproperly instructed in the manner of wearing my improved mounting canreadily remove the 1 same without the use of these manually controlledmeans for operating'the pads and at the same time withoutscratching orbruising the nose.

Iv claim: 1. In an eyeglass mounting, the combination with a rigidbridge shaped to the curve of the nose of depending guard members heldin fixed relation to the bridge, upwardly .and rearwardly extending, padsupports carried by oneof the first named parts, and gripping padsmounted on the supports for movement about axes posterior to theanterior edge thereof, said pads being nor- .mally disposed with theirfront edges inwardlyof their rear edges and at a greater angle than thatof the surface of the nose intended to be engaged thereby, whereby themounting may be slipped rearwardly on the .nose, and the nosewillreadily slide between the pads while their front edges will biteinward into the nose to resist accidental disengagement of the mountingtherefrom, substantially as described.

2. In a mounting of the character described, the combination with arigid bridge adapted to fit the nose of the wearer, a pliable armsupported by each end of the bridge, and extending rearwardly therefrom,said arm being rigidly connected tov the bridge, and a pair of noseengaging members supported by each of the pliable arms, said memberscomprising a lower rest, a post rising above the rest, and a grippingmember on the post mounted for movement about an axis posterior to theanterior edge thereof, said gripping member being disposed at an acuteangle to the plane of the lower member, whereby when the lower member isadjusted to fit the side of the nose the upper member will be facedinward atan -anglethereto to bite into the side nose andprevent'accidental disengagement of the mounting therefrom.

3. The combination with a bridge and lens supports, of Weight bearingpads carried thereby, free front edge gripping pads, means for forcingsaid free front edges into gripping position, and independentmanually'operable means for shifting said front edges into inoperativeposition.

4. An eyeglass'mounting including gripping members supported posteriorto the anterior edge thereof for swinging movement about a verticalaxis, means for actuatj ing the" gripping members in one direction allyoperable means for operating r and additional means forswinging thegripping members' in the opposite direction.

5. In an eyeglass mountmg, the combmation with lens supports, of weightsupporting members carried thereby, gripping members, means for swingingthe gripping members intobitmg engagement wlth the nose of the wearer,and independent manually operable means for swinging the grippingmembers into inoperative position.

6. The combination with lens supports, of i weight carryingmemberssecured thereto, grlpplng members mounted for swinging movementon an axls rearwardly of the forward portion thereof and separate means;I

stationary lower portion and an upper por--;

tion movable relative thereto about a verticalax1s,res1l1ent means foractuatmg the pad 1n one direction and lndependent'manuin the oppositedirection.

8. An eyeglass mounting including a guard having a stationary lowerportion and an automatically relatively movable upper the pad portion,and manual means for moving the front edge of the upperportion outward.

9. In an eyeglass mounting, the combination with a support for thelenses, of a gripping member mounted to turn about an upright axislocated rearwardly of the front edgeof the gripping member, and meansfor forcing the front edge of the gripping member inward and additionalmeans for shifting said front edge outward.

10. In an eyeglassmountmg, the combination with a support for thelenses, of a grip- T ping member mounted to turn about an upright axisdisposed rearwardly of the front edge of the gripping member, resilientmeans for automatically turning the gripping mem ber about said axiswhereby the front edge of the gripping member is .forced inwardly,

and manually operable means for forcing said front edge'outwardly.

11. A spectacle mounting embodying a support, a lower guard membercarried thereby and adjustable relative thereto,a displaceable uppergripping member carried by one of said parts and movable relative toboth of the first mentioned parts, means for shifting said upper. memberinwardly, and

additional means foroutwardly shifting said member to render the sameinoperative.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V Witnesses FLORENCE G. CoDnNE, JOSEPH J. DE ERs.

Washington, D. G.

JOEL G, WELLS. I

Gopies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, 1

